Gunners forced to grind it out

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1

One-nil to the Arsenal used to be a scoreline Highbury’s North Bank took great pride in, but having utterly outplayed Sunderland for 45 minutes, the Gunners were frustrated to have to grind out victory.

That they did should encourage them ahead of a crucial three weeks.

It looked an unlikely final score when, led by Jack Wilshere, Arsenal’s incisive passing dominated an opening first 45 minutes in which Theo Walcott was uncatchable and Sunderland were threatened with an embarrassing defeat.

But when Wilshere limped off and Carl Jenkinson’s red card left Walcott preoccupied with protecting makeshift right-back Aaron Ramsey, a comfortable afternoon became anything but.

Arsenal can thank their blessings — and Wojciech Szczesny — that Steven Fletcher failed to make the most of three good opportunities, while goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s charge upfield for an added-time corner also came to nought.

Disappointment tinged the Gunners’ relief because they ought to have long since blown their hosts away.

“We should have killed the game in the first half,” admitted Mikel Arteta. “We made it really difficult for ourselves.

“I think if we got two or three in the first half the game was over.

“You have to win games like that in the Premier League. In the last five or 10 minutes they were hanging balls into the box. It is difficult to get the ball out when they do that but we defended really well and Wojciech made two or three outstanding saves.”

Tottenham’s victory in the earlier North London-North East clash made winning vital in Arsenal’s push for a top-four finish and Walcott seemed inspired to show Gareth Bale is not the only Premier League winger whose pace frightens defenders.

A constant pest, he took two minutes to force Mignolet’s first save, although it was when Arsenal resorted to late counter-attacks he hit the post. Mignolet twice denied Ramsey, parrying a drive and saving with his legs one-on-one.

By then Arsenal led, Wilshere and Walcott playing in Santi Cazorla after 35 minutes.

Battered and bruised, a winded Wilshere departed on 50 minutes. Jenkinson followed 12 minutes later after his second late tackle.

Stephane Sessegnon’s dribbling brought the second yellow card and the departure of Jenkinson, starting because Laurent Koscielny was injured in the warm-up, only encouraged him. Szczesny’s agility and Fletcher’s uncharacteristic wastefulness left Sunderland with nothing to show for it.

Arsenal’s mental strength contrasted with Wilshere’s physical frailty, exacerbated by his willingness to run at opponents — literally in the case of the collision with Alfred N’Diaye which ended his afternoon.

“He has to take that gamble,” insisted manager Arsene Wenger. “His game is to take the ball and go at people. (Barcelona’s Lionel) Messi does that without being injured. You can only make a career with the strong aspect of your game.”

With knockout games against Blackburn and Bayern Munich before what Arteta called a potentially “decisive” Premier League game at Tottenham, Arsenal need a fit Wilshere.

Sunderland’s Martin O’Neill, meanwhile, will use the second half as a benchmark.

“We’ve got to aim for that sort of intensity,” he said. “If the crowd feel there is an intensity, I honestly believe they will forgive mistakes.”

One major bonus for O’Neill was the reception for substitute Danny Graham, whose background as a Newcastle fans meant he had been abused when he appeared here for Swansea earlier in the month.

Graham was cheered when he went on the pitch as a second-half substitute and O’Neill said: “We’re very pleased with the reception.